Phase-loss detection apparatus of three-phase AC power source and method of detecting phase loss

ABSTRACT

A method of detecting phase loss of a three-phase AC power source includes steps of: acquiring any two line voltages of the AC power source with a first cycle period, acquiring a first digital signal and a second digital signal, performing an exclusive OR operation between the first digital signal and the second digital signal to generate a level signal, accumulating a high-level time count value, or accumulating a low-level time count value, resetting the low-level time count value when the high-level time count value is accumulated, or resetting the high-level time count value when the low-level time count value is accumulated, and determining that the AC power source occurs a phase-loss abnormality when the high-level time count value is greater than or equal to ⅓ of the first cycle period or the low-level time count value is greater than or equal to ⅙ of the first cycle period.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a power abnormality detectionapparatus and a method of detecting the power abnormality, and moreparticularly to a phase-loss detection apparatus of a three-phase ACpower source and a method of detecting phase loss.

Description of Related Art

The statements in this section merely provide background informationrelated to the present disclosure and do not necessarily constituteprior art.

The inverter usually uses a three-phase AC voltage as the input powersource. When any one phase of the three-phase voltage circuit breaksfault, the input power source will be phase-loss as shown in FIG. 1 .Since the source voltage obtained by full-wave rectification when theinput power is phase-loss will significantly oscillate, thereby causingthe DC bus voltage to oscillate, which is not conducive to the motordrive control.

The conventional level type of phase-loss detection structure is shownin FIG. 2 . A three-phase AC input voltage sensor is installed to readthe voltage values of the three-phase (for example, A-B-C or R-S-T)input voltage, and use the sensed three-phase voltages to determinewhether the input voltage source is abnormal or not. As shown in FIG. 3, a high voltage level V_(H) and a low voltage level V_(L) arepredetermined, and the sensed voltage information is compared with thehigh voltage level V_(H) and the low voltage level V_(L). If the voltageinformation is less than the low voltage level V_(L) or greater than thehigh voltage level V_(H), the counter is reset (phase counter=0). On thecontrary, if there is no change in the voltage information within acertain period of time, the counter will accumulate to the upper limitto determine that the input voltage is abnormal (AC stable=0). However,this detection manner must wait for a period of observation time todetermine whether the phase-loss abnormality occurs. Therefore, thehardware cost is high and the determination time is too long, which doesnot meet the current industry's increasing demand for response.

SUMMARY

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a phase-loss detectionapparatus of a three-phase AC power source to solve the existingproblems.

In order to achieve the object, the phase-loss detection apparatus ofthe three-phase AC power source includes an analog-to-digital converter,an exclusive OR operator, and a signal operator. The analog-to-digitalconverter receives any two line voltages of the three-phase AC powersource with a first cycle period, and outputs a first digital signal anda second digital signal respectively corresponding to the two linevoltages. The exclusive OR operator receives the first digital signaland the second digital signal, and performs an exclusive OR operationbetween the first digital signal and the second digital signal togenerate a level signal. The signal operator receives the level signal,and accumulates a high-level time count value according to a time lengthof the level signal maintaining in a high level, or accumulates alow-level time count value according to a time length of the levelsignal maintaining in a low level. When the signal operator accumulatesthe high-level time count value, the signal operator resets thelow-level time count value to be zero; when the signal operatoraccumulates the low-level time count value, the signal operator resetsthe high-level time count value to be zero. When the high-level timecount value is greater than or equal to ⅓ of the first cycle period orthe low-level time count value is greater than or equal to ⅙ of thefirst cycle period, the signal operator determines that the three-phaseAC power source occurs a phase-loss abnormality.

In one embodiment, when the low-level time count value is greater thanor equal to ⅙ of the first cycle period, the signal operator determinesthat a common-phase voltage of the any two line voltages occur thephase-loss abnormality.

In one embodiment, when the high-level time count value is greater thanor equal to ⅓ of the first cycle period, the signal operator determinesthat a non-common-phase voltage of the any two line voltages occur thephase-loss abnormality.

In one embodiment, the phase-loss detection apparatus further includes avoltage sensing circuit. The voltage sensing circuit has three voltagesensors. The three voltage sensors respectively measure a voltage ofeach phase of the three-phase AC power source, and output the any twoline voltages of the three-phase AC power source.

In one embodiment, the analog-to-digital converter receives the any twoline voltages of the three-phase AC power source through the voltagesensing circuit.

In one embodiment, the analog-to-digital converter is a Schmitt trigger,and the Schmitt trigger converts the two line voltages into the firstdigital signal and the second digital signal.

Accordingly, the phase-loss detection apparatus of the three-phase ACpower source is provided to use the analog-to-digital converterinstalled at the side of the three-phase AC power source to acquire twodigital signals corresponding to any two line voltages of thethree-phase AC power source, and the two digital signals are calculatedto complete the identification of the phase difference of thethree-phase power source. Compared with the conventional detectionmanner, it is faster and more accurate, and increases recognition of theAC power source by the inverter. Moreover, not only the response time ofAC power abnormality detection is increased, but also the demand ofcircuit usage is reduced, thereby achieving the purposes of systemperformance improvement and cost reduction.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a method ofdetecting phase loss of a three-phase AC power source to solve theexisting problems.

In order to achieve the object, the method includes steps of: acquiringany two line voltages of the three-phase AC power source with a firstcycle period, acquiring a first digital signal and a second digitalsignal respectively corresponding to the two line voltages, performingan exclusive OR operation between the first digital signal and thesecond digital signal to generate a level signal, accumulating ahigh-level time count value when the level signal is maintained in ahigh level, or accumulating a low-level time count value when the levelsignal is maintained in a low level, resetting the low-level time countvalue to be zero when the high-level time count value is accumulated, orresetting the high-level time count value to be zero when the low-leveltime count value is accumulated, and determining that the three-phase ACpower source occurs a phase-loss abnormality when the high-level timecount value is greater than or equal to ⅓ of the first cycle period orthe low-level time count value is greater than or equal to ⅙ of thefirst cycle period.

In one embodiment, when the low-level time count value is greater thanor equal to ⅙ of the first cycle period, determining that a common-phasevoltage of the any two line voltages occur the phase-loss abnormality.

In one embodiment, when the high-level time count value is greater thanor equal to ⅓ of the first cycle period, determining that anon-common-phase voltage of the any two line voltages occur thephase-loss abnormality.

In one embodiment, the level signal has a second cycle period, and thesecond cycle period is ½ of the first cycle period.

In one embodiment, in the first cycle period, detecting twice whetherthe high-level time count value is greater than or equal to ⅓ of thefirst cycle period, and detecting twice whether the low-level time countvalue is greater than or equal to ⅙ of the first cycle period.

Accordingly, the method of detecting phase loss of the three-phase ACpower source is provided to use the analog-to-digital converterinstalled at the side of the three-phase AC power source to acquire twodigital signals corresponding to any two line voltages of thethree-phase AC power source, and the two digital signals are calculatedto complete the identification of the phase difference of thethree-phase power source. Compared with the conventional detectionmanner, it is faster and more accurate, and increases recognition of theAC power source by the inverter. Moreover, not only the response time ofAC power abnormality detection is increased, but also the demand ofcircuit usage is reduced, thereby achieving the purposes of systemperformance improvement and cost reduction.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended toprovide further explanation of the present disclosure as claimed. Otheradvantages and features of the present disclosure will be apparent fromthe following description, drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present disclosure can be more fully understood by reading thefollowing detailed description of the embodiment, with reference made tothe accompanying drawing as follows:

FIG. 1 is a schematic waveform diagram of a source voltage and a DC busvoltage under the phase-loss abnormality.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional level type of phase-lossdetection structure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic waveform diagram of operating the conventionallevel type of phase-loss detection structure.

FIG. 4A is a block diagram of a phase-loss detection apparatus of athree-phase AC power source according to one embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 4B is a block diagram of the phase-loss detection apparatus of thethree-phase AC power source according to another embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a schematic waveform of a relationship between line voltagesand digital signals according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a schematic waveform between the level signal and the digitalsignals according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a schematic waveform of a relationship between a high-leveltime count value, a low-level time count value, and a level signalaccording to the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a schematic waveform diagram of phase-loss detection under anS-phase break fault according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a schematic waveform diagram of phase-loss detection under anR-phase break fault according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a schematic waveform diagram of phase-loss detection under aT-phase break fault according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a method of detecting phase loss of athree-phase AC power source according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe thepresent disclosure in detail. It will be understood that the drawingfigures and exemplified embodiments of present disclosure are notlimited to the details thereof.

Please refer to FIG. 4A, which shows a block diagram of a phase-lossdetection apparatus of a three-phase AC (alternating current) powersource according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thephase-loss detection apparatus of three-phase AC power source 10(hereinafter referred to as “phase-loss detection apparatus 10” includesan analog-to-digital converter 11, an exclusive OR operator 12, and asignal operator 13.

In one embodiment, the analog-to-digital converter 11 receives any twoline voltages of the three-phase AC power source. For example, theanalog-to-digital converter 11 can receive any two line voltages of anRS line voltage (a voltage between phase R and phase S), an ST linevoltage (a voltage between phase S and phase T), and a TR line voltage(a voltage between phase T and phase R) of the three-phase (R-S-T) ACpower source. In one embodiment, the analog-to-digital converter 11 mayreceive three phase voltages (such as R-phase voltage, S-phase voltage,and T-phase voltage), and then the analog-to-digital converter 11composes the received phase voltages to acquire the RS line voltage, theST line voltage, and the TR line voltage. Alternatively, before thethree phase voltages are received by the analog-to-digital converter 11,the three phase voltages can be pre-composed to generate the RS linevoltage, the ST line voltage, and the TR line voltage, and then theanalog-to-digital converter 11 receives the three line voltages (i.e.,the RS line voltage, the ST line voltage, and the TR line voltage). Inparticular, a three-phase three-wire structure or a three-phasefour-wire structure may be considered. In particular, theanalog-to-digital converter 11 is used to convert an analog signal (suchas a three-phase AC electrical signal) into a digital signal that can becalculated/processed by a digital controller (or a digital signalprocessor or a digital chip).

Please refer to FIG. 4B, which shows a block diagram of the phase-lossdetection apparatus of the three-phase AC power source according toanother embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, thephase-loss detection apparatus 10 further includes a voltage sensingcircuit 14. The voltage sensing circuit 14 has three voltage sensors141,142,143 and a composing circuit 144. The three voltage sensors141,142,143 respectively measure a voltage of each phase (i.e., theR-phase voltage, the S-phase voltage, and the T-phase voltage) of thethree-phase AC power source. The composing circuit 144 outputs the anytwo line voltages of the RS line voltage (the voltage between phase Rand phase S), the ST line voltage (the voltage between phase S and phaseT), and the TR line voltage (the voltage between phase T and phase R) ofthe three-phase (R-S-T) AC power source according to the three phasevoltages measured by the voltage sensors 141,142,143 to theanalog-to-digital converter 11. Take FIG. 4B as an example, theanalog-to-digital converter 11 receives the RS line voltage V_(RS) andthe ST line voltage V_(ST) through the voltage sensing circuit 14. Inparticular, the voltage sensing circuit 14 may be, for example but notlimited to, a three-phase three-wire configuration or a three-phasefour-wire configuration.

To facilitate the description of the operation and principle of thephase-loss detection apparatus 10 of the present disclosure, the RS linevoltage and the ST line voltage are exemplified for furtherdemonstration. Therefore, the analog-to-digital converter 11 shown inFIG. 4A receives the RS line voltage V_(RS) and the ST line voltageV_(ST), but the TR line voltage V_(TR) is not labeled. Similarly, theselection of the ST line voltage and the TR line voltage or theselection of the TR line voltage and the RS line voltage is an extensionof the same technical concept, and the detail description is omittedhere for conciseness and no additional diagram representation is added.

Please refer to FIG. 5 , which shows a schematic waveform of arelationship between line voltages and digital signals according to thepresent disclosure. An electrical angle difference between the RS linevoltage V_(RS) and the ST line voltage V_(ST) is 120 degrees, i.e., ⅓ ofone cycle period. The analog-to-digital converter 11 receives the RSline voltage V_(RS) and the ST line voltage V_(ST), and converts theanalog signals, such as the RS line voltage V_(RS) and the ST linevoltage V_(ST) into digital signals. As shown in FIG. 5 , between timepoint t1 and time point t3, the RS line voltage V_(RS) is positive, andafter one cycle period, i.e., between time point t5 and time point t7,the RS line voltage V_(RS) is also positive. At time points t1,t3,t5,t7the RS line voltage V_(RS) is zero-voltage crossing, that is, timepoints t1,t3,t5,t7 are zero-voltage crossing points of the RS linevoltage V_(RS) Similarly, between time point t4 and time point t6, theST line voltage V_(ST) is positive, and at time points t4,t6, the STline voltage V_(ST) is zero-voltage crossing, that is, time points t4,t6are zero-voltage crossing points. Incidentally, the analog-to-digitalconverter 11 may be, for example but not limited to, implemented by aSchmitt trigger. Any circuit capable of converting an analog signal intoa digital signal can be used as the analog-to-digital converter 11 ofthe present disclosure. The operation principle and technicalinformation of the Schmitt trigger can be found in Wikipedia, such asthe disclosure on the webpagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schmitt_trigger, so the detail descriptionis omitted here for conciseness.

Take the positive ST line voltage V_(ST) between time point t4 and timepoint t6 and the positive RS line voltage V_(RS) between time point t5and time point t7 as an example, the ST line voltage V_(ST) changes fromnegative to positive at time point t4 and the RS line voltage V_(RS)changes from negative to positive at time point t5. The time lengthbetween time point t4 and time point t5 is 120 degrees, i.e., ⅓ of onecycle period.

After the conversion processing by the analog-to-digital converter 11,an RS digital signal S_(RS) (also referred to as a first digital signal)corresponding to the RS line voltage V_(RS) and an ST digital signalS_(ST) (also referred to as a second digital signal) corresponding tothe ST line voltage V_(ST) are acquired. In other words, between timepoint t4 and time point t6, the ST digital signal S_(ST) is high-level,however, between time point t2 and time point t4 and between time pointt6 and time point t8, the ST digital signal S_(ST) is low-level; betweentime point t5 and time point t7, the RS digital signal S_(RS) ishigh-level, however, between time point t3 and time point t5 and betweentime point t7 and time point t9, the RS digital signal S_(RS) islow-level.

Refer to FIG. 4A again, the exclusive OR operator 12 receives the firstdigital signal, i.e., the RS digital signal S_(RS) and the seconddigital signal, i.e., the ST digital signal S_(ST), and performs anexclusive OR operation between the first digital signal and the seconddigital signal to generate a level signal S_(XOR). According to theprinciple of the exclusive OR operation: if signal levels of two inputsignals are different (i.e., one is high-level and the other islow-level), the level signal S_(XOR) is a high-level signal; if signallevels of two input signals are the same (i.e., both are high-level orboth are low-level), the level signal S_(XOR) is a low-level signal.

Therefore, according to the level of the RS digital signal S_(RS) andthe level of the ST digital signal S_(ST) in different time periods,after the exclusive OR operation between the RS digital signal S_(RS)and the ST digital signal S_(ST) by the exclusive OR operator 12, thecorresponding levels of the level signal S_(XOR) are shown in Table 1 asfollows.

TABLE 1 time RS digital ST digital level interval signal S_(RS) signalS_(ST) signal S_(XOR) t1-t2 high high low t2-t3 high low high t3-t4 lowlow low t4-t5 low high high t5-t6 high high low t6-t7 high low hight7-t8 low low low t8-t9 low high high

Please refer to FIG. 6 , which shows a schematic waveform between thelevel signal and the digital signals according to the presentdisclosure. The level change of the level signal S_(XOR) by performingthe exclusive OR operation can be clearly seen in FIG. 6 . In otherwords, if the phase type of phase-loss detection hardware circuitproposed in the present disclosure detects that the RS line voltageV_(RS) and the ST line voltage V_(ST) are positive, the corresponding RSdigital signal S_(RS) and ST digital signal S_(ST) are high-level; onthe contrary, if the RS line voltage V_(RS) and the ST line voltageV_(ST) are negative, the corresponding RS digital signal S_(RS) and STdigital signal S_(ST) are low-level. Therefore, when the three-phase ACpower source is normal, a controller (or a control unit) may receive theRS digital signal S_(RS) and the ST digital signal S_(ST) with a phasedifference of 120 degrees.

Refer to FIG. 4 again, the signal operator 13 receives the level signalS_(XOR), and accumulates counting numbers according to the level of thelevel signal S_(XOR). For example, when the level of the level signalS_(XOR) maintains in the high level, a high-level time count valueC_(NTH) is accumulated; when the level of the level signal S_(XOR)maintains in the low level, a low-level time count value C_(NTL) isaccumulated. Please refer to FIG. 7 , which shows a schematic waveformof a relationship between a high-level time count value, a low-leveltime count value, and a level signal according to the presentdisclosure. When the three-phase AC power source is normal (no thephase-loss abnormality), between time point t1 and time point t2 listedin Table 1, since the RS digital signal S_(RS) is high-level and the STdigital signal S_(ST) is high-level, the level signal S_(XOR) islow-level. At this condition, the low-level time count value C_(NTL) iscontinuously accumulated, and the high-level time count value C_(NTH) isreset to zero.

Similarly, between time point t4 and time point t5, since the RS digitalsignal S_(RS) is low-level and the ST digital signal S_(ST) ishigh-level, the level signal S_(XOR) is high-level. At this condition,the high-level time count value C_(NTH) is continuously accumulated, andthe low-level time count value C_(NTL) is reset to zero. And then,between time point t5 and time point t6, since the RS digital signalS_(RS) is high-level and the ST digital signal S_(ST) is high-level, thelevel signal S_(XOR) is low-level. At this condition, the low-level timecount value C_(NTL) is continuously accumulated, and the high-level timecount value C_(NTH) is reset to zero. And then, between time point t6and time point t7, since the RS digital signal S_(RS) is high-level andthe ST digital signal S_(ST) is low-level, the level signal S_(XOR) ishigh-level. At this condition, the high-level time count value C_(NTH)is continuously accumulated, and the low-level time count value C_(NTL)is reset to zero.

Therefore, under the normality of the three-phase AC power source, theaccumulation of the high-level time count value C_(NTH) and theaccumulation of the low-level time count value C_(NTL) are alternatelyperformed. That is, the high-level time count value C_(NTH) isaccumulated but the low-level time count value C_(NTL) is reset betweentime point t4 and time point t5, and then the low-level time count valueC_(NTL) is accumulated but the high-level time count value C_(NTH) isreset between time point t5 and time point t6. Moreover, since thealternate of the high/low levels between the RS digital signal S_(RS)and the ST digital signal S_(ST), the high-level time count valueC_(NTH) is not greater than or equal to ⅓ of the cycle period (i.e., ⅓T,such as between time point t4 and time point t5), and then the low-leveltime count value C_(NTL) is alternately accumulated. Similarly, sincethe low-level time count value C_(NTL) is not greater than or equal to ⅙of the cycle period (i.e., ⅙T, such as between time point t5 and timepoint t6), and then the high-level time count value C_(NTH) isalternately accumulated. In particular, the level signal S_(XOR) has asecond cycle period, and the second cycle period is ½ of the first cycleperiod. Therefore, in the first cycle period, the high-level time countvalue C_(NTH) is detected twice to determine whether it is greater thanor equal to ⅓ of the first cycle period, and the low-level time countvalue C_(NTL) is detected twice to determine whether it is greater thanor equal to ⅙ of the first cycle period.

Therefore, under this regular characteristic, the signal operator 13 candetermine whether the three-phase AC power source occurs the phase-lossabnormality according to the high-level time count value C_(NTH) and thelow-level time count value C_(NTL). In other words, when the signaloperator 13 detects that the high-level time count value C_(NTH) isgreater than or equal to ⅓ of the cycle period, or detects that thelow-level time count value C_(NTL) is greater than or equal to ⅙ of thecycle period, the signal operator 13 determines that the three-phase ACpower source occurs the phase-loss abnormality. At this condition, thesignal operator 13 provides an output signal S_(OUT) for thenotification of the phase-loss abnormality. Alternatively, the signaloperator 13 provides the output signal S_(OUT) with different levels forthe notification of the phase-loss abnormality. For example, when thehigh-level time count value C_(NTH) is greater than or equal to ⅓ of thecycle period or the low-level time count value C_(NTL) is greater thanor equal to ⅙ of the cycle period, the signal operator 13 outputs thehigh-level output signal S_(OUT) for the notification of the phase-lossabnormality. On the contrary, when the high-level time count valueC_(NTH) is not greater than or equal to ⅓ of the cycle period or thelow-level time count value C_(NTL) is not greater than or equal to ⅙ ofthe cycle period, the signal operator 13 outputs the low-level outputsignal S_(OUT) for the notification of no phase-loss abnormality.

In other words, when the level signal S_(XOR) is high-level, thehigh-level time count value C_(NTH) is continuously accumulated, and thelow-level time count value C_(NTL) is reset to zero. On the contrary,when the level signal S_(XOR) is low-level, the low-level time countvalue C_(NTL) is continuously accumulated, and the high-level time countvalue C_(NTH) is reset to zero. Therefore, the phase difference betweenthe RS digital signal S_(RS) and the ST digital signal S_(ST) can bedetermined. Under the normality of the three-phase AC power source, thehigh-level time count value C_(NTH) is less than ⅓ of the cycle period,and the low-level time count value C_(NTL) is less than ⅙ of the cycleperiod. Therefore, if either the high-level time count value C_(NTH) orthe low-level time count value C_(NTL) is greater than or equal to thecorresponding normal count values, the phase-loss abnormality will bedetected.

In different embodiments, the exclusive OR operator 12 and the signaloperator 13 may be, but not limited to, two separate circuits orcomponents, or the exclusive OR operator 12 and the signal operator 13may be integrated into one logic circuit, but this is not a limitationthis invention.

In the following, based on the RS line voltage V_(RS) and the ST linevoltage V_(ST) (corresponding to the RS digital signal S_(RS) and the STdigital signal S_(ST)), the phase-loss abnormality due to line breakfault of separate R-S-T phases will be described as follows. Pleaserefer to FIG. 8 , which shows a schematic waveform diagram of phase-lossdetection under the S-phase break fault according to the presentdisclosure. Due to the S-phase line break fault, the RS line voltageV_(RS) is equivalent to a voltage V_(R)(V_(RS)=V_(R)−V_(S)=V_(R)−0=V_(R)), and the ST line voltage V_(ST) isequivalent to a voltage (−V_(T)) (V_(ST)=V_(S)−V_(T)=0−V_(T)=−V_(T)).Therefore, the RS line voltage V_(RS) (equivalent to V_(R)) and the STline voltage V_(ST) (equivalent to −V_(T)) are in phase (no electricalangle difference). At this condition, the level signal S_(XOR) acquiredby performing the exclusive OR operation is low-level. When thelow-level time count value C_(NTL) is accumulated to the maximumlow-level time count value (i.e., ⅙T), the output signal S_(OUT)provided from the signal operator 13 is used for the notification of theS-phase phase-loss abnormality. In one cycle period, the phase type ofphase-loss detection apparatus can perform four count detections. As thewaveform shown in the fourth column of FIG. 8 , the number of detectionof the phase type of phase-loss detection apparatus is twice that of theconventional (level type) detection manner, and therefore thedetermination response is faster. In terms of hardware, the level type(conventional) detector must be equipped with three voltage sensors (asshown in FIG. 2 ), and three analog-to-digital converter pins (ADC pins)must be used to read the three-phase voltage values. However, comparedwith the conventional level type phase-loss detector, the phase type ofphase-loss detection apparatus of the present disclosure only needs toread digital signals of any two line voltages, such as the RS linevoltage V_(RS) and the ST line voltage V_(ST). Also, only two input andoutput pins (IO pin) needs to be used to read the RS digital signalS_(RS) and the ST digital signal S_(ST), or even only one input andoutput pin needs to be used to read the level signal S_(XOR) (digitalsignal). On the whole, it not only increases the response time of ACpower abnormality detection, but also reduces the demand of circuitusage, thereby achieving the purposes of system performance improvementand cost reduction.

Please refer to FIG. 9 , which shows a schematic waveform diagram ofphase-loss detection under the R-phase break fault according to thepresent disclosure. Due to the R-phase line break fault, the RS linevoltage V_(RS) is equivalent to a voltage (−V_(S))(V_(RS)=V_(R)−V_(S)=0−V_(S)=−V_(S)), and the ST line voltage V_(ST) isto a voltage V_(ST) (V_(ST)=V_(S)−V_(T)=V_(ST)). Therefore, the RS linevoltage V_(RS) (equivalent to −V_(S)) and the ST line voltage V_(ST) (isto V_(ST)) are opposite in phase. At this condition, the level signalS_(XOR) acquired by performing the exclusive OR operation is high-level.When the high-level time count value C_(NTH) is accumulated to themaximum high-level time count value (i.e., ⅓T), the output signalS_(OUT) provided from the signal operator 13 is used for thenotification of the R-phase phase-loss abnormality. In one cycle period,the phase type of phase-loss detection apparatus can perform four countdetections. As the waveform shown in the fourth column of FIG. 9 , thenumber of detection of the phase type of phase-loss detection apparatusis twice that of the conventional (level type) detection manner, andtherefore the determination response is faster. In terms of hardware,the level type (conventional) detector must be equipped with threevoltage sensors (as shown in FIG. 2 ), and three analog-to-digitalconverter pins (ADC pins) must be used to read the three-phase voltagevalues. However, compared with the conventional level type phase-lossdetector, the phase type of phase-loss detection apparatus of thepresent disclosure only needs to read digital signals of any two linevoltages, such as the RS line voltage V_(RS) and the ST line voltageV_(ST). Also, only two input and output pins (IO pin) needs to be usedto read the RS digital signal S_(RS) and the ST digital signal S_(ST),or even only one input and output pin needs to be used to read the levelsignal S_(XOR) (digital signal). On the whole, it not only increases theresponse time of AC power abnormality detection, but also reduces thedemand of circuit usage, thereby achieving the purposes of systemperformance improvement and cost reduction.

Please refer to FIG. 10 , which shows a schematic waveform diagram ofphase-loss detection under the T-phase break fault according to thepresent disclosure. Due to the T-phase line break fault, the RS linevoltage V_(RS) is to a voltage V_(RS) (V_(RS)=V_(R)−V_(S)=V_(RS)), andthe ST line voltage V_(ST) is equivalent to a voltage V_(S)(V_(ST)=V_(S)−V_(T)=V_(S)−0=V_(S)). Therefore, the RS line voltageV_(RS) (is to V_(RS)) and the ST line voltage V_(ST) (is equivalent toV_(S)) are opposite in phase. At this condition, the level signalS_(XOR) acquired by performing the exclusive OR operation is high-level.When the high-level time count value C_(NTH) is accumulated to themaximum high-level time count value (i.e., ⅓T), the output signalS_(OUT) provided from the signal operator 13 is used for thenotification of the T-phase phase-loss abnormality. In one cycle period,the phase type of phase-loss detection apparatus can perform four countdetections. As the waveform shown in the fourth column of FIG. 10 , thenumber of detection of the phase type of phase-loss detection apparatusis twice that of the conventional (level type) detection manner, andtherefore the determination response is faster. In terms of hardware,the level type (conventional) detector must be equipped with threevoltage sensors (as shown in FIG. 2 ), and three analog-to-digitalconverter pins (ADC pins) must be used to read the three-phase voltagevalues. However, compared with the conventional level type phase-lossdetector, the phase type of phase-loss detection apparatus of thepresent disclosure only needs to read digital signals of any two linevoltages, such as the RS line voltage V_(RS) and the ST line voltageV_(ST). Also, only two input and output pins (IO pin) needs to be usedto read the RS digital signal S_(RS) and the ST digital signal S_(ST),or even only one input and output pin needs to be used to read the levelsignal S_(XOR) (digital signal). On the whole, it not only increases theresponse time of AC power abnormality detection, but also reduces thedemand of circuit usage, thereby achieving the purposes of systemperformance improvement and cost reduction.

According to the above description of the three-phase line break faultFIG. 8 to FIG. 10 , when the low-level time count value C_(NTL) isgreater than or equal to ⅙ of the cycle period, a common-phase voltageof the any two line voltages occurring the phase-loss abnormality can bedetected. As shown in FIG. 8 , when the common-phase (S-phase) linebreak fault occurs, the low-level time count value C_(NTL) iscontinuously accumulated to be greater than or equal to ⅙ of the cycleperiod. When the high-level time count value C_(NTH) is greater than orequal to ⅓ of the cycle period, a non-common-phase voltage of the anytwo line voltages occurring the phase-loss abnormality can be detected.As shown in FIG. 9 , when the non-common-phase (R-phase) line breakfault occurs, or as shown in FIG. 10 , when the non-common-phase(T-phase) line break fault occurs, the high-level time count valueC_(NTH) is continuously accumulated to be greater than or equal to ⅓ ofthe cycle period.

Please refer to FIG. 11 , which shows a flowchart of a method ofdetecting phase loss of a three-phase AC power source according to thepresent disclosure. The method of detecting phase loss of thethree-phase AC power source includes steps of: First, acquiring any twoline voltages of the three-phase AC power source with a first cycleperiod (S10). For example, any two line voltages of an RS line voltage(a voltage between phase R and phase S), an ST line voltage (a voltagebetween phase S and phase T), and a TR line voltage (a voltage betweenphase T and phase R) of the three-phase (R-S-T) AC power source may beacquired.

Afterward, acquiring a first digital signal and a second digital signalrespectively corresponding to the two line voltages by ananalog-to-digital conversion (S20).

Afterward, performing an exclusive OR operation between the firstdigital signal and the second digital signal to generate a level signal(S30). If signal levels of two input signals are different (i.e., one ishigh-level and the other is low-level), the level signal is a high-levelsignal; if signal levels of two input signals are the same (i.e., bothare high-level or both are low-level), the level signal is a low-levelsignal.

Afterward, accumulating a high-level time count value (S51) when thelevel signal is maintained in a high level (S41). On the contrary,accumulating a low-level time count value (S52) when the level signal ismaintained in a low level (S42). Afterward, resetting the low-level timecount value to be zero when the high-level time count value isaccumulated (S61); resetting the high-level time count value to be zerowhen the low-level time count value is accumulated (S62). Under thenormality of the three-phase AC power source, the accumulation of thehigh-level time count value and the accumulation of the low-level timecount value are alternately performed. Since the alternate of thehigh/low levels between the RS digital signal and the ST digital signal,the high-level time count value is not greater than or equal to ⅓ of thecycle period (i.e., ⅓T), and then the low-level time count value isalternately accumulated. Similarly, since the low-level time count valueis not greater than or equal to ⅙ of the cycle period (i.e., ⅙T), andthen the high-level time count value is alternately accumulated.

Afterward, determining that the three-phase AC power source occurs aphase-loss abnormality (S80) when the high-level time count value isgreater than or equal to ⅓ of the first cycle period (i.e., thedetermination result of step (S71) is “YES”) or the low-level time countvalue is greater than or equal to ⅙ of the first cycle period (i.e., thedetermination result of step (S72) is “YES”). On the contrary, if thedetermination result of step (S71) is “NO” or the determination resultof step (S72) is “NO”, no the phase-loss abnormality occurs, andtherefore step (S30) is performed.

The phase-loss detection apparatus of the three-phase AC power sourceand the method of detecting phase loss are provided to use theanalog-to-digital converter 11 to acquire the RS digital signal S_(RS)and the ST digital signal S_(ST), and the two signals are calculated tocomplete the identification of the phase difference of the three-phasepower source. Compared with the conventional detection manner, it isfaster and more accurate, and increases recognition of the AC powersource by the inverter.

In summary, the present disclosure has the following features andadvantages:

1. The analog-to-digital converter installed at the side of thethree-phase AC power source is used to acquire two digital signalscorresponding to any two line voltages of the three-phase AC powersource, and the two digital signals are calculated to complete theidentification of the phase difference of the three-phase power source.Compared with the conventional detection manner, it is faster and moreaccurate, and increases recognition of the AC power source by theinverter.

2. The phase type of phase-loss detection structure and algorithm areprovided to determine the phase-loss abnormality in real time to solvethe shortcomings of the conventional detection manner and rigorouslyverify whether the AC power source is abnormal.

3. On the whole, it not only increases the response time of AC powerabnormality detection, but also reduces the demand of circuit usage,thereby achieving the purposes of system performance improvement andcost reduction.

Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to thepreferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the presentdisclosure is not limited to the details thereof. Various substitutionsand modifications have been suggested in the foregoing description, andothers will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, allsuch substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced withinthe scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A phase-loss detection apparatus of a three-phaseAC power source, comprising: an analog-to-digital converter configuredto receive any two line voltages of the three-phase AC power source witha first cycle period, and output a first digital signal and a seconddigital signal respectively corresponding to the two line voltages, anexclusive OR operator configured to receive the first digital signal andthe second digital signal, and perform an exclusive OR operation betweenthe first digital signal and the second digital signal to generate alevel signal, and a signal operator configured to receive the levelsignal, and accumulate a high-level time count value according to a timelength of the level signal maintaining in a high level, or accumulate alow-level time count value according to a time length of the levelsignal maintaining in a low level, wherein when the signal operatoraccumulates the high-level time count value, the signal operator resetsthe low-level time count value to be zero; when the signal operatoraccumulates the low-level time count value, the signal operator resetsthe high-level time count value to be zero; wherein when the high-leveltime count value is greater than or equal to ⅓ of the first cycle periodor the low-level time count value is greater than or equal to ⅙ of thefirst cycle period, the signal operator determines that the three-phaseAC power source occurs a phase-loss abnormality.
 2. The phase-lossdetection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the low-leveltime count value is greater than or equal to ⅙ of the first cycleperiod, the signal operator determines that a common-phase voltage ofthe any two line voltages occur the phase-loss abnormality.
 3. Thephase-loss detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when thehigh-level time count value is greater than or equal to ⅓ of the firstcycle period, the signal operator determines that a non-common-phasevoltage of the any two line voltages occur the phase-loss abnormality.4. The phase-loss detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising: a voltage sensing circuit having three voltage sensorsconfigured to respectively measure a voltage of each phase of thethree-phase AC power source, and output the any two line voltages of thethree-phase AC power source.
 5. The phase-loss detection apparatus asclaimed in claim 4, wherein the analog-to-digital converter receives theany two line voltages of the three-phase AC power source through thevoltage sensing circuit.
 6. The phase-loss detection apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the analog-to-digital converter is a Schmitttrigger, and the Schmitt trigger is configured to convert the two linevoltages into the first digital signal and the second digital signal. 7.A method of detecting phase loss of a three-phase AC power source,comprising steps of: acquiring any two line voltages of the three-phaseAC power source with a first cycle period, acquiring a first digitalsignal and a second digital signal respectively corresponding to the twoline voltages, performing an exclusive OR operation between the firstdigital signal and the second digital signal to generate a level signal,accumulating a high-level time count value when the level signal ismaintained in a high level, or accumulating a low-level time count valuewhen the level signal is maintained in a low level, resetting thelow-level time count value to be zero when the high-level time countvalue is accumulated, or resetting the high-level time count value to bezero when the low-level time count value is accumulated, and determiningthat the three-phase AC power source occurs a phase-loss abnormalitywhen the high-level time count value is greater than or equal to ⅓ ofthe first cycle period or the low-level time count value is greater thanor equal to ⅙ of the first cycle period.
 8. The method of detectingphase loss as claimed in claim 7, wherein when the low-level time countvalue is greater than or equal to ⅙ of the first cycle period,determining that a common-phase voltage of the any two line voltagesoccur the phase-loss abnormality.
 9. The method of detecting phase lossas claimed in claim 7, wherein when the high-level time count value isgreater than or equal to ⅓ of the first cycle period, determining that anon-common-phase voltage of the any two line voltages occur thephase-loss abnormality.
 10. The method of detecting phase loss asclaimed in claim 7, wherein the level signal has a second cycle period,and the second cycle period is ½ of the first cycle period.
 11. Themethod of detecting phase loss as claimed in claim 10, wherein in thefirst cycle period, detecting twice whether the high-level time countvalue is greater than or equal to ⅓ of the first cycle period, anddetecting twice whether the low-level time count value is greater thanor equal to ⅙ of the first cycle period.